Get Linked: 6 Reasons Nurses Need a LinkedIn Profile

[Melissa Mills, BSN]

It seems everyone is on social media these days. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are just a few of the many social media platforms out there. Almost everyone uses these for social connection.

But, what about as a professional? Should you be on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network?

The simple and resounding answer is, "Yes". Many nurses believe that you only need to be active on LinkedIn if you are looking for new opportunities. I used to believe this myself. Now, I spend a few minutes on LinkedIn everyday and have found far more than opportunities. I have found friends, new colleagues, and business ventures.

Sounds great, right? Well, let's dig in to 6 reasons you need a LinkedIn profile.

Putting a Face to a Name

I am a visual person. When I hear about an interesting person I want to know more about, I go searching. LinkedIn allows you to put your smiling face on your profile. This is the first thing people see just before reading all about the many professional skills you possess.

While we are on the subject of name, be sure to include all of your credentials after your last name. This puts your credentials at the top of your profile and frees up space to put more detail in your headline.

Create a Headline

Just below your picture is a great space to write your headline. This can change as often as you want. You create your own tagline. Think commercial jingle for your own nursing brand.

Many nurses write their title and maybe a specialty, such as Home Health Nurse. But, there is so much more about you that can go in this space. Think of 3 things about yourself that compliment your identity as a nurse. Put those in that space divided by a line. For example, my profile is set up like this:

Freelance Healthcare Writer| Career Coach |Nurse Consultant

This focuses on who I am as a professional and the skills I possess. Others can easily know what makes me tick and identify skills I possess that they may need when looking for new staff members or business partners.

Easy Searchability

LinkedIn is a great search engine. You can search by job title, credentials, or any other keywords that might interest you. Be sure to use keywords about yourself that are searchable.

This includes your title, credentials, niche, or other skills that are needed in the professional world. If you are great with organizational skills, productivity, leadership, or writing, use these words and others throughout your profile and when creating posts.

If you create a post that is specific to a niche, use keywords and hashtags. For example, if you are posting nursing information, use #nursing. This helps others find your content easily.

Start Networking

LinkedIn allows you to network at work, after work, and any time. You can connect with others in your niche or a new niche you are considering. You can find business partners or even your biggest competitors. It gives you a world of helpful information when looking for new endeavors or maintaining your lionshare of success.

Create Credibility

There is something about searching for someone online and finding information with ease that offers a level of credibility. LinkedIn provides you with your own url. This means that if someone puts your name into search engine and you have a LinkedIn profile, they are likely to find you quickly.

Keep Up with the Professional World

LinkedIn is a great place to keep up with the ever-changing healthcare industry. You can easily search for content that has to do with your niche. Try this tip to get the latest info:

• In the search box at the top of the page, type in keywords about the content you want to search. For example, if you want to learn more about MACRA, enter that into the search box. You can also use hashtags when searching, such as #nursingjobs.
• Just below the search box is a toolbar designed to help you search different categories, such as people, jobs, content, and more. Click on the word "content".
• Scroll through the information that comes up in the search. It sorts by relevance as a default setting. If you want to look at the latest information, click on the down arrow at the top of the feed and change to "latest" to see the most recent posts.

This will also help you find groups that you can request to join in your specific niche. Groups may be closed, meaning that the person running the group can approve or deny your request to join. These groups can offer invaluable information about the current status of the healthcare industry.

LinkedIn is a great tool and community. You can meet others, find information and create relationships that could provide you with opportunities long before you actually need them. Do you have certain questions about setting up your LinkedIn profile? Have you had success with using LinkedIn to find new opportunities? We would love to hear your stories and questions. Get the conversation started by posting in the comments. Get Linked: 6 Reasons Nurses Need a LinkedIn Profile

[elkpark]

There's no way I would touch LinkedIn with a ten-foot pole. I already get annoying emails from them that are apparently automatically generated by the site going into the personal email address books of my friends who are on LinkedIn and swiping all the names and email addresses, and I'm already worried about whether that somehow gives the site access to my computer. Have we not all gotten the message from the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica mess? I don't belong to any social networking sites (other than this one), won't consider doing so, and don't disclose any more personal information online than absolutely necessary.

Remember the old adage about the internet: If you're not paying for a product, you are the product.

[Melissa Mills, BSN]

Elkpark - Thanks for your comments. I certainly understand your concerns. I share them as well, I guess for me, I see so much value in networking and connecting that I take the risk. But, I do see where you are coming from for sure.

Thanks for commenting.

Melissa

[rhkenji]

Linkedin is not free. You may not be paying for it, but companies do, and they also have paid membership for professionals that has needs for the site.

[Lucydog14]

Some how I seemed to have survived several years with no LinkedIn profile. Boggles the mind how I do it.

[Lane Therrell FNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Thank you for this article. It is a gentle reminder that I should be using LinkedIn more. I'm working on making peace with social media, and LinkedIn is a great place to start.

[Gods_nurse]

Wow, I had no idea... I have a profile, but never really did anything with it...

[caliotter3]

Elkpark has an uncanny ability to express my thoughts on the matter.

[nurse_miko]

Of the many things, LinkedIn is shallow. For ONE BIG REASON. I believe one's resume of hard work shouldn't be subjected to judgment that comes from what is basically a HEADSHOT. I'm not fashion model, I'm a nurse. "Putting a face to name" is something you do in an interview, not by looking a photo. If you feel that a photo can sway you into liking a candidate a a little more, then it also means that a photo can sway you into liking a candidate a little less. And how professional is that?

And the act of NOT posting a photo on LinkedIn will consciously and/or subconscious affect your professional appearance as well. Whether you like it or not. How enlightened is that?

I am OK with the other "networking" benefits of LinkedIn, but that Headshot thing is really a professional step backwards for our society. Let's just keep the pix on Facechat, Instabook, and Snapgram!

Sincerely, a millenial RN.

(I had a great profile pic, then one day realized how prominent that element of LinkedIn is. And i don't think it's cool in the professional word of healthcare)